White House rethinking that corporate-funding ban for Obama’s inauguration

posted at 3:46 pm on November 23, 2012 by Erika Johnsen

Although taxpayers always pick up the tab for the security and the costs of the actual inaugural ceremony in front of the Capitol, all of the parties, concerts, and events surrounding that auspicious occasion come from the generosity of the president-elect-or-incumbent’s supporters. After the 2008 campaign, that pervasive spirit of Hopenchange and the accompanying historic-ness of it all meant well-funded celebrations galore to usher in President Obama’s first term — but this year, perhaps not so much.

It doesn’t look like the Obamas have any plans to tone down the festivities, but after a grueling election season and with an economy still in tatters, the White House is wondering if they shouldn’t maybe just ditch that lofty ban on corporate donations from last time around. The WSJ reports:

President Barack Obama’s fundraising advisers have urged the White House to accept corporate donations for his January 2013 inaugural celebration rather than rely exclusively on weary donors who underwrote his $1 billion re-election effort. …

The White House wouldn’t release the cost of the ceremony or what the fundraising target is.

Four years ago Mr. Obama barred corporations from donating to his inauguration, a gesture meant to show that well-heeled interests wouldn’t have undue influence in his administration. For the 2009 events he raised more than $50 million from other donors to help cover the costs of celebrations.

But the climate is different now. The economy is still struggling, and the president’s campaign donors are drained from a long election season in which they were also asked to help fund the Democratic convention in Charlotte and congressional races.

And heck, why not? We all know that that “transparency” and “ending business as usual” thing was a total sham anyways, so why not just put a stop to the charade and be honest about what’s going on here? In an ever-metastisizing big, progressive, regulatory government in which rent-seeking keeps taking the place of free-market signals, corporations and businesses are going to be looking for ways to ingratiate themselves with the Obama administration — so I think the White House should indeed feel free to quit with the pretensions any time now. Bring on the cronyism, round two!

And it is a good time to catch up on my reading. The last thing I want him to see is any of the residents of the White House celebrating anything. 4 more years of this garbage bombarding us almost 24 hours a day.

If he had any common sense (ha ha), he would do nothing but the swearing in and congressional luncheon. Make a very public point that with so many tax payers in hardship and unemployment at an all time high there is not time or money or mood for celebrating.

Cutting the deficit starts at home….

Of course all that means the party will be bigger and more expensive than evea. Let the beluga caviar and champagne flow!

Obama needs to extend an olive branch to the corporations that contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to defeat him. Giving them the opportunity to try to buy influence as the tax code is re-written could be a way of opening a necessary dialogue.

I do love Inauguration Day even when the Republicans win. I remember Ronnie rolling by in a simpler time when the limousine was open and he and George Senior waved from ten feet away.

In ’84 and ’88 I was working at the most expensive restaurant in town, back from the campaign trail, having lost, but at least making great money from rich Republicans and clearing James A. Baker’s place.

In ’92, I bought my wife a string of pearls for the inaugural ball and I had tickets to the swearing in. I spent time in the (different) most expensive restaurant in town as a celebrant rather than an employee, and we finished the night, tuxedoed and begowned at a local dive at 3AM.

In 2000, I brought the boy down to the parade in the pouring rain, and took his picture amongst the riot police.

If they actually “cared how we feel” and “felt for the little people”, you know, the ones who are being laid off and seeing economic hardships, then they’d forgo the party and just do what is necessary like the swearing in.

Maybe, if the leftists hadn’t been trying to riot because their stooge lost, there wouldn’t have been a need for as many riot police. You assclowns brought it on yourselves.

As for me, I had a fine time.

Solaratov on November 23, 2012 at 4:23 PM

I saw about 10 “anarchists” being jerks and would generally have been fine with them being clubbed into insensibility. If you want to make a statement, don’t go messing with a memorial to service members.

Otherwise, everyone was very calm.

And, if you hadn’t had the Supreme Court steal the election for you, we wouldn’t have been so pissed off. Why were you so afraid to count the votes?

“Leftists.” Hah. As if there’s anything remotely resembling a proper Leftist movement in the country.

And there goes the last shred of any respect I may have had for your intelligence.

Solaratov on November 23, 2012 at 4:30 PM

Gotta admit, it was a dicey decision. And suppressing a recount — doesn’t that make you feel a little shivery? Shouldn’t a recount on a race that close be an option?

Liar! Every leftist paper counted the votes, numerous times, and every time GWB won.

It was NOT stolen, even if you liars will repeat that until you all starve.

Schadenfreude on November 23, 2012 at 4:28 PM

Then why were you so afraid to let the authorities do it? It still smells fishy, though I bring it up largely just to get a rise. In the long run, George Bush’s presidency desperately wounded the Republican Party and made Obama a two-term president, so I take comfort in that.

Then why were you so afraid to let the authorities do it? It still smells fishy…

urban elitist on November 23, 2012 at 4:38 PM

I was never afraid. NO, it doesn’t smell fishy. Thank God the little “ape”, in your side’s words, was president on 9/11/2001. Lordy, lordy, if that buffoon of AlGore would have pontificated and then done nothing.

Also, much as I don’t like much of GWB, thank God that Kerry wasn’t president either. Just listening to that snotty Frenchie pimp drone on for at least 4 years…yikes.

NO worries on your latter statement – Obama will have done more to divide the land, to ruin her, in all regards, than anyone in all of her history. You won’t have much to be proud of.

Because you’re decent sometimes I spare you the ill will. You’ll see it all unfold without it.

HahahHA! Suck it, all you lefty idealists who voted for 0bama because you thought Mitt Romney was a corporate stooge. I told my dad we will get 0bama below Bush’s approval ratings by ’16 and he laughed. I’m laughing now

Then why were you so afraid to let the authorities do it? It still smells fishy, though I bring it up largely just to get a rise. In the long run, George Bush’s presidency desperately wounded the Republican Party and made Obama a two-term president, so I take comfort in that.

urban elitist on November 23, 2012 at 4:38 PM

Because those “authorities” in those precincts were not impartial. They were no longer counting votes, they were attempting to divine voter intent by looking at voter cards to see if there was any “evidence” of a stylus touching the chad for Gore. They were looking to see if the voter had voted for dems elsewhere and then claiming they meant to vote for Gore. The whole recount had become a sham.

This was the one case where “keep counting the votes until the democrat wins” did not work and your side is still pi$$ed about it. Your side wasn’t able to steal the election in 2000 the way it had intended. Get over it.

And, by the way, you do realize that you’re a liar, perpetuating a lie told by democRAT liars, don’t you?

If you don’t, it’s OK…because we do. No matter how typically smarmy you try to be, you’re just another assclown leftoid drone telling the same tired lies over and over…and hoping someone besides your echo chamber believes them.

ue, I know AlGore. A more nasty person there never was in the congress, nor ever will be. He is really a piece of crap for a ‘human’ being.

Schadenfreude on November 23, 2012 at 4:46 PM

I knew people who worked for him at senior levels. They don’t like him much, either. Neither did I. At least we can agree on that.

My wife, to her eternal embarrassment, held the opinion: Gore’s such an a**hole, let Bush win, there’s a recession coming anyway, and we’ll take the White HOuse back in ’04. What’s the worst that could happen?”

As for this:

Obama will have done more to divide the land, to ruin her, in all regards, than anyone in all of her history. You won’t have much to be proud of.

I think that the right wing that whipped opposition to Obama into a psychotic frenzy — “I hope he fails,” “take our America back,” “Obama hates white culture,” “death panels,” the birthers and so on, bear the brunt of the division blame.

ue, I know AlGore. A more nasty person there never was in the congress, nor ever will be. He is really a piece of crap for a ‘human’ being.

Schadenfreude on November 23, 2012 at 4:46 PM

He really is, isn’t he?

I can say – with a fair amount of pride – that the Gore family absolutely hated my family – because we were instrumental in keeping them out of some of the more exclusive social organizations in Northern Virginia because they were ‘trashy and common’.

Because those “authorities” in those precincts were not impartial. They were no longer counting votes, they were attempting to divine voter intent by looking at voter cards to see if there was any “evidence” of a stylus touching the chad for Gore. They were looking to see if the voter had voted for dems elsewhere and then claiming they meant to vote for Gore. The whole recount had become a sham.

That actually wasn’t the basis of the Supreme Court decision, though.

Solaratov on November 23, 2012 at 4:56 PM

Kind of derailed it accidently. I’m more than happy tpo talk about the inauguration than rehashing this for the billionth time.

I think that the right wing that whipped opposition to Obama into a psychotic frenzy — “I hope he fails,” “take our America back,” “Obama hates white culture,” “death panels,” the birthers and so on, bear the brunt of the division blame.

Oh, and let’s add Mitt and his 47% to that list.

urban elitist on November 23, 2012 at 5:00 PM

Oh … so the left didn’t whip opposition to Romney into a frenzy? “He’s a felon”! “He kills people and takes their money”! “He closed the company and my wife died of cancer”! “Cayman Island bank accounts”! “He has money and you don’t”! “He’s going to take away your Medicare and welfare”! “He’s going to kill Social Security”!!!!!!!!!! “He hates black people”!!!!!!!!!!!

I can say – with a fair amount of pride – that the Gore family absolutely hated my family – because we were instrumental in keeping them out of some of the more exclusive social organizations in Northern Virginia because they were ‘trashy and common’.

I can say – with a fair amount of pride – that the Gore family absolutely hated my family – because we were instrumental in keeping them out of some of the more exclusive social organizations in Northern Virginia because they were ‘trashy and common’.

Solaratov on November 23, 2012 at 5:02 PM

Good for you. The Gores are incredibly racist and Al Gore Jr. seems to like to rape massage therapists.

Sorry, but I for one, am unwilling and frankly unable to unify behind the rat-eared wonder and his merry band of socialists, communists, anarchists, atheists, and traitors. I literally could not go to church the Sunday after the election because of the hatred in my heart for this vile bastard, his disgusting pig of a wife, and all that another four years of dictatorship will do to this nation.

If Obama or anybody on the left wants unity, they need to make the first step. Otherwise, I say it is time to go over the brink with the fiscal cliff and see what the bastard does then. He’s counting on the GOP to cave. I say let the nation burn until fiscal conservatives are treated with respect and not demonized as some fringe group.

First, the point was that the person making that statement knew what Obama wanted to do. Skyrocketing energy prices, massive bailouts of selected industries, government takeover of healthcare. Massive government regulation of industry, energy and citizens. Yeah, wanting him to fail at that was hoping for the freedom and liberties of our people.

Second view, “Not my President”, “He stole the election”, “illegitmate President” ring any bells? Since you pattern yourself to be an elitist, I would assume that means you consider yourself a bit above the average democrat moron and have a memory that extends past yesterday’s New York Times editorial about whether we are at war with Eastasia or Eurasia this week. If so, then you would realize those were all comments made before Bush took office in 2001. Doesn’t sound like anybody on your side was exactly offering the olive branch of peace nor the willingness to work with Bush. More recently, “we will block Romney’s plans if he wins the White House” even before the election.

“take our America back,”

An America of freedom, liberty and opportunity for all, as opposed to an America of government intrusion, government control, and cronyism for his corporate donors? Yeah, that’s a pretty extreme view. Can’t have that freedom stuff corrupting our statist society now, can we?

“Obama hates white culture,”

DOJ refusal to prosecute armed NBPP members standing outside a polling place in Philly. “The police acted stupidly”. DOJ not interested in pursuing any discrimination cases unless a minority is the plaintiff. Care to defend that?

“death panels,”

IPAB. Cutting $100B from Medicare. Numerous statements about having to ration care. “I don’t think we can make a judgment based upon a person’s zeal for life, sometimes it will make more sense to say, you should take a pain pill instead of having that operation”.

Ball’s in your court skippy.

the birthers and so on, bear the brunt of the division blame.

Yeah, let’s go with that.

Oh, and let’s add Mitt and his 47% to that list.

urban elitist on November 23, 2012 at 5:00 PM

Let’s see, the number of people on Food Stamps is now at 47%. Interesting number that. How many of those inner city voters voted for Obama because they don’t want to lose their government benefits? After all, they live is such wonderful surroundings, it can’t be because they were afraid Romney would make them live in slums or something. “Obamaphone!”

Facts never matter to useful idiots, quasi-communists and other assorted leftist nuts … only their beliefs. That’s why their belief that they are morally superior allows them to lie, cheat, steal, attack and sometimes kill without regret or remorse.

Umm.. Here’s a thing. How about tamping down on the celebrations? One thing that I was hoping for with Romney is a much humbler, thriftier version of the Presidency, and I think that he would have obliged. It’s bad optics to be playing imperial philosopher king when the economy is tatters and people are suffering.

Facts never matter to useful idiots, quasi-communists and other assorted leftist nuts … only their beliefs. That’s why their belief that they are morally superior allows them to lie, cheat, steal, attack and sometimes kill without regret or remorse.

darwin on November 23, 2012 at 5:21 PM

Indeed. The follies of Ego, Arrogance and Narcissism run deep with the ilk who call themselves the elite.

I can say – with a fair amount of pride – that the Gore family absolutely hated my family – because we were instrumental in keeping them out of some of the more exclusive social organizations in Northern Virginia because they were ‘trashy and common’.

Solaratov on November 23, 2012 at 5:02 PM

I used to work with somebody who had previously worked at the Naval Observatory (where the VP and some senior Navy flag officers have housing). Apparently when the Gores were out walking in the evening and ecountered their neighbors, they completely ignored them. Keep in mind these were two and three star admirals all living in close proximity with the VP. Trashy and common doesn’t begin to describe the situation. Quite the difference from GHW Bush who routinely asked his neighbors in for a beer after work.

Let me tell you guys something…many of the entertainers at these parties–including the inaugural balls are not paid a cent. Mr. Stifle is a professional saxophonist whose band somehow came to the attention of some committee or another–and ended up being selected to perform at the main inaugural ball. (The leaders of the band are big time Obama lovers and jumped at the chance..my husband–being a conservative– hated every minute of it). The long and short of it is…even though this is a local Chicago band, they took the gig with the knowledge that it was a volunteer thing…for over three hours of entertainment, bus travel, etc etc..they weren’t paid a dime. Not even money for meals or accomodations. The stories I could tell about that weekend…

This is your Democratic Party…they claim to be supportive of labor-but its really just a sham. All of it.